Game with race figure movement determined by projectile projecting skill

ABSTRACT

An electromechanical racing game, having figures mounted for linear movement across the length of a game board with each of the figures being connected to motors for driving them along the game board. Intermittently actuable switch means is provided for intermittently driving the motors to propel each of the figures, with pin ball devices in the form of launching plungers and game balls arranged for launching towards said intermittent switch means so that, if properly launched, the pin balls will be deposited on a switch element which will close said switch means to intermittently drive said motor to advance a related figure along the game board.

United States Patent 91 Barlow Dec. 25, 1973 [75] Inventor: Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, 111.

22 Filed: Dec. 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 207,894

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 16,423 0/1910 Great Britain 273/86 G 680,713 10/1952 Great Britain 273/86 F Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-James F. Coffee et al.

[ ABSTRACT An electromechanical racing game, having figures mounted for linear movement across the length Ora game board with each of the figures being connected to motors for driving them along the game board. Intermittently actuable switch means is provided for intermittently driving the motors to propel each of the figures, with pin ball devices in the form of launching plungers and game balls arranged for launching towards said intermittent switch means so that, if properly launched, the pin balls will be deposited on a switch element which will close said switch means to intermittently drive said motor to advance a related figure along the game board.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 25 I975 SHEET 1!]? 2 PATENTEI] DEC 25 I975 SHEET 2 [1F 2 GAME WITH RACE FIGURE MOVEMENT DETERMINED BY PROJECTILE PROJECTING SKILL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to-a pin ball type racing game.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art The art includes different forms of racing games such as disclosed in the following US. Pat. Nos.: Ehret 2,119,046, -31-1938; Garms et al. 2,230,563, 2-04-1941; Crowley 2,378,621, 6-19-1945; Lemke 2,547,164, 4-03-1951; Malkan 2,591,956, 4-08-1952; Gibson, Jr. 3,297,323, 1-10-1967; Abercrombie 3,602,508, 8-31-1971;

Racing type games are popular in that they stimulate excitement during the course of the game as the participants take interest in the competition between the figures or vehicles, or the like, with which they are associated. The concept of controlling a racing type game by pin ball action is generally illustrated in the Lemke US. Pat. No. 2,547,164. Games utilizing a pin ball-type action to control components are further well received in that the game involves the suspense of the ball properly striking another component to control future action. Such devices as generally disclosed in the art, including those specifically disclosed herein, are relatively complex in structure and arrangement. Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to meet a need and desire in the art to provide a pin ball controlled racing game, which is relatively simple in structure and easy in execution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved pin ball type racing game.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a game board having lengthwise tracks thereon, with figures mounted for movement along said tracks and connected with a pulley which is associated with a separate drive motor. The game further includes a plurality of pin ball type launching elements in individual compartments with trap means and a plunger arranged to randomly receive a properly launched pin ball. The plunger overlies one component of the switch with a second contact component overlying the one component. If properly launched, a ball will extend through the trap means, be received in the plunger, causing the switch to close, thereby resulting in an intermittent drive of the motor which is associated with the pulley for a respective figure and track. The plunger will further reject the ball after momentary capture therein, returning the ball to the propulsion means, and terminating the driving of the motor and advancement of the figure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section view through the game of this invention;

FIG. 3 is another fragmentary section view through the game of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the relationship of 'the motor and drive pulley and the signal flag associated with each channel;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken away in section, of the trap and plunger means for each pin ball alley; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the circuitry of the motor and switch and power source.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game 10 of this invention includes a game table or game tray, generally indicated 12, preferably made of a suitable rigid material, such as a plastic or the like. The game tray 12 is supported on side walls l4, l6 and end walls 18.

The game tray 12 includes a plurality of rails 20, which extend from end to end. The rails support figures 22, here shown in the form of simulated horses which are connected to sleeves 24, that slidingly embrace the rails 20. Each sleeve 24 has a strand 26 connected thereto which extends through an opening 28 in one end of the game table, and is wound about a drum 30 of pulley 32, rotatably supported in spaced uprights 34 and 36 under the upper surface. Each pulley 32 has a belt 38 wrapped therearound, which also extends around output shaft 40 of a motor 42a or 42.

Motors 42 and 42a are each one of two pairs of motors' which are part of a circuit which includes a source of power, such as the batteries 44. Wire 46 extends from each motor 42 to post 48 at one end of batteries 44. Wire 50 extends from post 52 at the other end of the batteries 44 to each switch contact 54, and wire 56 extends from each switch contact 58 back to motor 42 and wire 56a extends from each switch contact 58a back to motors 42a. Switch contacts 54 and 58 and 54 and 58a are normally held spaced apart, and when closed, will cause activation of a motor to rotate the output shaft 40 and thereby drive pulley 32 and winding drum 30. Preferably, one motor 42, 42a, pulley and strand is provided for association with each of the rails 20 and the motors and pulleys are supported on an inwardly extending leg 60 at the bottom of end wall 18. Specifically, motors 42a are associated with contacts 58a and operate responsive to launching efforts on one side of the game tray while motors 42 are associated with contacts 58 and operate responsive to launching activites on the other side of the game tray.

Each side of the game table 12 is provided with a pair of opposing launching alleys 62. The launching alleys merge into a ramp 64 which terminates in a raised plateau 66. Plateau or platform 66 has an opening 68 therethrough, which is aligned with a generally right angular configured ball receiving channel 70. Channel 70 has a closed rear end 70a and an open forward end 70b and a depending peg 71 at its forward end which is in alignment with opening 71a in portions of the table structure under the platform 66. At its other end, the channel 70 is provided with a supporting pin 72 which is pivotally received in support brackets 72a and 72b.

Ramp 64 has a return chute opening 74 which is generally aligned with the outfeed end of the channel 70.

A wall or barrier 76 separates the platform portion 66 of the opposing launching alleys 62 and provides a means fordeflecting or rebounding playing pieces back towards the platform 66 or down the ramp 64.

Each launching alley 62 further has a hollow plunger 78 biased by an interior spring 80 which abuts the interior of the plunger as well as an abutment 82 located within plunger 78. An upstanding finger or trigger 84 of plunger 78 extends through an opening 84a for slidably mounting the plunger 78 with respect to the launching alley between a depressed, or cocked position, and an extended, or launching position, for launching playing pieces, preferably in the form of pin balls 86, up the launching alley 62.

The game of this invention further includes a signal means 90 for indicating completion of the traversal across the rails by one of the figures 22. Signal means 90 is located at one end of the board, preferably that end which overlies the motor and pulley. Included in the signal means is a sign panel 92, which is movable between a retracted position, interiorly of the game board, and an extended position, exteriorly of the game board, through slots 94. A biasing means 97, such as in the form of a rubber band, extends between a wall bracket 18 and a bottom lip [00 on sign panel 92 for normally biasing or urging the sign panel 92 outwardly of slot 94. The sign panel 92 has a nose 102 which serves to hold the sign panel 92 retracted relative to the slot 94 by engaging the underside of the game board adjacent the slot.

An actuator sleeve 104 is movably mounted on each rail 20. Each actuator sleeve 104 has a forward extension 106 which is in a position to engage the sign panel 92. in operation, when a figure 22 has traversed to the end of the rail, the figure sleeve 24 will engage the actuator sleeve 104 and cause the extension 106 to move the sign panel 92 rearwardly to a position where the nose 102 will be released from its abutting contact with the underside of the structure adjacent slot 94. At this point, the biasing means 92 is free to exert its force and quickly spring the sign panel 92 outwardly of the slot 94 to indicate that the figure traversing the rail in the associated lane has completed its run. The sign panels may be reset by pushing'the panels inwardly of the openings 94 and slightly forwardly so that the top of the panel will again abut the underside of the frame.

To play the game, each of the participants repeatedly operates the plunger 78 to launch the game ball 86 towards ramp 62. The participants seek to launch the ball in such a manner that it will climb the ramp 64 and eventually drop through opening 68 where it will be received in channel 70. As the ball traverses down channel 70, the exit end thereof will be tilted downwardly, causing pin 71 to push contact 54 into engagement with contact 58 or 580 and cause one of motors 42 or 42a to operate for a limited span of time. As one of the motors 42 or 42a operates, the figure 22 will be pulled along rail 20. When the ball 86 exits outwardly of the open end 70a of channel 70 through opening 74, it will return to a position adjacent plunger 78, and the player may again attempt to repeat the same action.

Thus, it can be seen that the game of this invention affords a great deal of excitement in that players continually areattempting to competitively launch their game balls 86 in such a fashion as to cause intermittent operation of the motor to drive each figure along its respective rail. Therefor, the game affords the excitement of the competitive activity of the figures being driven along the board as well as the efforts of the individual players in an attempt to properly launch the game ball in such a manner as to actuate the motor which drives the figures 22.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim: 1 In a racing game including means defining a race course having a supporting frame with a plurality of generally parallel tracks, a plurality of figures one for each player, one figure mounted for movement along each track, driving means connected to said figures for moving the figures along the tracks in generally equally incremented distances, and operating means for each player for intermittently actuating said driving means for that respective players figure, the improvement in said operating means comprising:

a rollable projectile; means defining a generally inclined projectile supporting ramp on said frame and extending generally parallel to said tracks, said supporting ramp having an upper end and a lower end, said ramp including a launching station at the lower end thereof from which a projectile may be supported preparatory to launching, a target opening at the upper end thereof through which a successfully launched projectile can pass downwardly by gravity and a projectile return opening in the ramp intermediate the ends thereof offset laterally relative to a line passing through said launching station and said target opening through which a projectile may pass on return to said launching station; gravity type target means including a platform at the upper end of the ramp defining a plateau extending oblique to the remainder of the ramp, said platform having said target opening therein and a projectile receiving channel having a portion aligned with and below the target opening for receiving any projectile which falls therethrough, said channel being pivotally mounted and being obliquely oriented with an end in registry with said offset ramp return opening for directing a projectile falling through said target opening to said ramp return opening, the channel being movable between a normally generally horizontal position and a position canted downwardly toward the launching station in response to the weight of a projectile received in the channel whereby whenever the channel is in the canted position the projectile is rollably released therefrom through the projectile return opening to return the projectile to the launching station;

actuating means operativcly associated with said driving means for actuating the same in response to a projectile passing through said target opening and along said channel; and

a manually manipulatable launcher adjacent the launching station for launching a projectile from the launching station up the ramp toward the target opening whereby the driving means is actuated whenever a projectile is successfully launched into the target opening.

2. The racing game of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of normally spaced apart switch elements below said channel and in position to be closed when the channel is canted, whereby the driving means is actuated. 

1. In a racing game including means defining a race course having a supporting frame with a plurality of generally parAllel tracks, a plurality of figures one for each player, one figure mounted for movement along each track, driving means connected to said figures for moving the figures along the tracks in generally equally incremented distances, and operating means for each player for intermittently actuating said driving means for that respective player''s figure, the improvement in said operating means comprising: a rollable projectile; means defining a generally inclined projectile supporting ramp on said frame and extending generally parallel to said tracks, said supporting ramp having an upper end and a lower end, said ramp including a launching station at the lower end thereof from which a projectile may be supported preparatory to launching, a target opening at the upper end thereof through which a successfully launched projectile can pass downwardly by gravity and a projectile return opening in the ramp intermediate the ends thereof offset laterally relative to a line passing through said launching station and said target opening through which a projectile may pass on return to said launching station; gravity type target means including a platform at the upper end of the ramp defining a plateau extending oblique to the remainder of the ramp, said platform having said target opening therein and a projectile receiving channel having a portion aligned with and below the target opening for receiving any projectile which falls therethrough, said channel being pivotally mounted and being obliquely oriented with an end in registry with said offset ramp return opening for directing a projectile falling through said target opening to said ramp return opening, the channel being movable between a normally generally horizontal position and a position canted downwardly toward the launching station in response to the weight of a projectile received in the channel whereby whenever the channel is in the canted position the projectile is rollably released therefrom through the projectile return opening to return the projectile to the launching station; actuating means operatively associated with said driving means for actuating the same in response to a projectile passing through said target opening and along said channel; and a manually manipulatable launcher adjacent the launching station for launching a projectile from the launching station up the ramp toward the target opening whereby the driving means is actuated whenever a projectile is successfully launched into the target opening.
 2. The racing game of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of normally spaced apart switch elements below said channel and in position to be closed when the channel is canted, whereby the driving means is actuated. 